Compare towns
Barrington vs Reading vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barrington has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Barrington | Reading | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,489Lowest |
25,612Highest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Reading and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barrington and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,100±$30kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194 32% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Reading and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,121 128% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barrington and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #65 of 120 in NH | #50 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Reading | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.